Raise a glass

from Marsh Duncanson

Subject: Mr Polak stories
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 00:15:59 -0600

I met Mr. Polak at the Can-Am race
in Edmonton in 1973. You may recall that future World
Champion Jody Scheckter was driving for Mr. Polak that year,
but success was limited as Roger Penske and Mark Donohue had
the amazing 917/30. I was 14. I hung around the pit and
paddock areas and soon became the unofficial
"go-fer". The thing that I remenber most about the
whole weekend was on race day, in the early afternoon. I
approached Mr. Polak and said, "Mr. Polak, you've
had nothing to eat all day, can I get you some chips or
something?" He patted my cheek, European-fashion and
said, "No...no, you are good boy, good boy," Such a
kind and gentle man. Although it is now twenty-eight years
later, (where did they all go?) I remember that brief
conversation as though it was yesterday.